Liquid crystal display

ABSTRACT

An exemplary embodiment of the present invention relates to a liquid crystal display having a display area and a non-display area which includes a first substrate and a second substrate facing the first substrate, a layer having a first opening, a spacer disposed in the first opening, and a first light blocking member disposed in the non-display area. The spacer is disposed in the first opening to maintain an interval between the first substrate and the second substrate. The spacer and the first light blocking member include the same material.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/790,216, filed on May 28, 2010, and claims priority from and thebenefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2009-0113477, filed on Nov.23, 2009, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference for allpurposes as if fully set forth herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display.

2. Discussion of the Background

A liquid crystal display (LCD) is one of the most widely used flat paneldisplays (FPD), and is composed of two display panels on whichelectrodes are formed, and a liquid is crystal layer interposed betweenthe two display panels. A voltage is applied to the electrodes togenerate an electric field on the liquid crystal layer, and theorientation of liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer isdetermined and the polarization of incident light is controlled throughthe generated electric field to display an image.

A widely used LCD has a structure in which field generating electrodesare respectively formed on two display panels. Among the two displaypanels, a plurality of pixel electrodes and thin film transistors arearranged in a matrix format on one display panel (hereafter referred toas a “thin film array panel”), color filters of red, green, and blue anda light blocking member are formed on the other display panel (hereafterreferred to as a “common electrode panel”), and one common electrodecovers the entire surface of the other display panel.

However, when the pixel electrodes and the color filters are formed ondifferent display panels, it may be difficult to correctly align thepixel electrodes and the color filters, which may cause an alignmenterror. To solve this problem, a color filter on array (COA) structuremay be used in which the pixel electrodes and the color filters may beformed on the same display panel.

Also, when considering a combination margin of the thin film transistorarray panel and the common electrode panel, a light blocking member suchas a black matrix may be formed with a larger than predetermined size.However, the aperture ratio may be decreased by the size of the blackmatrix so that the black matrix may alternatively be formed in the thinfilm transistor array panel.

An interval of the liquid crystal layer between two display panels isreferred to as a cell gap, and the cell gap influences general operationcharacteristics of the LCD such as response speed, contrast ratio,viewing angle, and luminance uniformity. If the cell gap is not isuniform, a uniform image may not be displayed on the whole screen, whichmay deteriorate the display quality. Accordingly, a plurality of spacersmay be formed on one of the two panels to maintain the uniform cell gapthroughout the whole region of the substrate.

The light blocking member including the black matrix prevents lightleakage at the boundary of the pixels and a non-display area at thecircumference of the display area. The spacer and the light blockingmember may be simultaneously formed to simplify a manufacturing process.However, when the height of the spacer is low, it may be difficult toform the light blocking member with sufficient optical density toprevent light leakage in the non-display area.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide a light blockingmember arranged in a non-display area of an LCD which is formed with aspacer.

Additional features of the invention will be set forth in thedescription which follows, and in part will be apparent from thedescription, or may be learned by practice of the invention.

An exemplary embodiment of the present invention discloses an LCDincluding a display area and a non-display. The LCD includes a firstsubstrate and a second substrate facing the first substrate, a layerhaving a first opening, a spacer disposed in the first opening, and afirst light blocking member disposed in the non-display area. The spaceris disposed in the first opening to maintain an interval between thefirst substrate and the second substrate. The spacer and the first lightblocking member include the same material.

An exemplary embodiment of the present invention also discloses amanufacturing method of an LCD including a display area and anon-display. The method is includes coupling a first substrate and asecond substrate together, forming a layer having a first opening on thefirst substrate, forming a spacer disposed in the first opening, thespacer to maintain an interval between the first substrate and thesecond substrate, and forming a first light blocking member in thenon-display area. The spacer and the first light blocking member aresimultaneously formed.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and areintended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute apart of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention, andtogether with the description serve to explain the principles of theinvention.

FIG. 1 is a layout view of an LCD according to an exemplary embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a layout view of an equivalent circuit diagram of one pixel ofa LCD according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a view showing a region “A” of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV′ of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a layout view of a LCD according to an exemplary embodiment ofthe present invention, showing the region A of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI′ of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a layout view of a region “B” of FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is cross-sectional view taken along lines X-X′ and X′-X″ of FIG.7 and lines Y-Y′ and Y′-Y″ of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

The invention is described more fully hereinafter with reference to theaccompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments of the inventionare shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many differentforms and should not be construed as limited to the exemplaryembodiments set forth herein. Rather, these exemplary embodiments areprovided so that this disclosure is thorough, and will fully convey thescope of the invention to those skilled in the art. In the drawings, thesize and relative sizes of layers and regions may be exaggerated forclarity. Like reference numerals in the drawings denote like elements.

It will be understood that when an element or layer is referred to asbeing “on” or “connected to” another element or layer, it can bedirectly on or directly connected to the other element or layer, orintervening elements or layers may be present. In contrast, when anelement is referred to as being “directly on” or “directly connected to”another element or layer, there are no intervening elements or layerspresent.

FIG. 1 is a layout view of an LCD according to an exemplary embodimentof the present invention. FIG. 2 is a layout view of an equivalentcircuit diagram of one pixel of an LCD according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the LCD according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention includes a liquid crystal panelassembly 300 and a gate driver 400 and a data driver 500 connectedthereto, a gray voltage generator (not shown) connected to the data isdriver 500, a light source unit (not shown) to provide light to theliquid crystal panel assembly 300, a light source driver (not shown) tocontrol the light source unit (not shown), and a signal controller (notshown).

The gate driver 400 or the data driver 500 may be formed on the lowerpanel 100 of the liquid crystal panel assembly 300, or may be formedseparately in the shape of an integrated circuit (IC) chip.

The liquid crystal panel assembly 300 includes lower and upper panels100 and 200, and a liquid crystal layer 3 interposed between the twopanels 100 and 200. As shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of gate lines 121proceed in the row direction, and a plurality of data lines 171 proceedin the column direction, in the liquid crystal panel assembly 300. Aplurality of pixels are connected to the gate and data lines 121 and 171and arranged roughly in the form of a matrix. A sealant 310 is formed atthe outer boundary of the liquid crystal panel assembly 300 so as toseal the liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer 3.

The liquid crystal layer 3 may have positive (+) or negative (−)dielectric anisotropy, and liquid crystal molecules of the liquidcrystal layer 3 may be aligned such that directors thereof standsubstantially parallel or perpendicular to the surface of the twodisplay panels 100 and 200 when an electric field is not appliedthereto.

Alignment layers (not shown) may be formed on the inner surfaces of thedisplay panels 100 and 200. The alignment layers may be verticalalignment layers. Polarizers (not shown) may be formed on the outersurfaces of the display panels 100 and 200.

Referring to FIG. 2, an LCD according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention includes signal lines including a plurality of gatelines GL, a plurality of pairs of data lines DLa and DLb, and aplurality of storage electrode lines SL, and a plurality of pixels PXconnected thereto.

The pixels PX include a pair of sub-pixels PXa and PXb, which includeswitching elements Qa and Qb, liquid crystal capacitors Clca and Clcb,and storage capacitors Csta and Cstb, respectively.

The switching elements Qa and Qb are three-terminal elements such asthin film transistors formed on the lower panel 100. The controlterminals of the switching elements Qa and Qb are connected to the gatelines GL, the input terminals thereof are connected to the data linesDLa and DLb, and the output terminals thereof are connected to theliquid crystal capacitors Clca and Clcb and the storage capacitors Cstaand Cstb, respectively.

The liquid crystal capacitors Clca and Clcb have sub-pixel electrodes191 a and 191 b and a common electrode 270 as two terminals, and theliquid crystal layer 3 is interposed between the two terminals as adielectric.

The storage capacitors Csta and Cstb, which assist the liquid crystalcapacitors Clca and Clcb, are formed by overlapping the storageelectrode line SL with the sub-pixel electrodes 191 a and 191 b andinterposing an insulator, and a predetermined voltage such as a commonvoltage Vcom is applied to the storage electrode line SL.

The voltages charged at the two liquid crystal capacitors Clca and Clcbslightly differ from each other. For example, the data voltage appliedto one of the liquid crystal capacitors Clca is established to be alwayslower or higher than the data voltage applied to the other liquidcrystal capacitor Clcb. When the voltages of the two liquid crystalcapacitors Clca and Clcb are properly controlled, an image viewed fromthe side of the LCD maximally approximates an image viewed from thefront of the LCD, thereby improving the lateral visibility of the LCD.

An LCD according to an exemplary embodiment of the present inventionwill be described in detail with reference to FIG. 3, FIG. 4, FIG. 5,and FIG. 6.

FIG. 3 is a layout view of the “A” region of FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is across-sectional view of the LCD taken along line IV-IV′ of FIG. 3.

Referring to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, an LCD according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention includes lower and upper displaypanels 100 and 200 facing each other, and a liquid crystal layer 3interposed between the two panels 100 and 200.

The lower display panel 100 will now be described in detail.

A plurality of gate lines 121 and a plurality of storage electrode lines131 and 135 are formed on an insulation substrate 110.

The gate lines 121 transmit gate signals, and proceed roughly in thetransverse direction. The gate lines 121 each include a plurality offirst and second gate electrodes 124 a and 124 b which protrude upward.

The storage electrode lines include stems 131 extending substantiallyparallel to the gate lines 121, and a plurality of storage electrodes135 which protrude from the stems 131.

The shape and disposition of the storage electrode lines 131 and 135 maybe altered in various manners.

A gate insulating layer 140 is formed on the gate lines 121 and thestorage electrode lines 131 and 135, and a plurality of semiconductors154 a and 154 b are formed on the gate insulating layer 140 usingamorphous silicon or crystalline silicon.

A plurality of pairs of ohmic contacts 163 b and 165 b are formed on thesemiconductors 154 a and 154 b. The ohmic contacts 163 b and 165 b maybe formed using silicide or n+ hydrogenated amorphous silicon in whichn-type impurities are doped at a high concentration.

A plurality of pairs of data lines 171 a and 171 b and a plurality ofpairs of first and second drain electrodes 175 a and 175 b are formed onthe ohmic contacts 163 b and 165 b and the gate insulating layer 140.

The data lines 171 a and 171 b transmit data signals, and proceedroughly in the column direction such that they cross the gate lines 121and the stems 131 of the storage electrode lines. The data lines 171 aand 171 b include first and second source electrodes 173 a and 173 bbent toward the first and second gate electrode 124 a and 124 b in theshape of a letter “U”. The first and second source electrodes 173 a and173 b face the first and second drain electrodes 175 a and 175 b aroundthe first and second gate electrodes 124 a and 124 b.

The first and second drain electrodes 175 a and 175 b include one endportion partially surrounded by the first and second source electrodes173 a and 173 b, body portions extended upward from the end portions,and wide opposite end portions to be connected with other layers.

However, the shape and disposition of the data lines 171 a and 171 bincluding the first and second drain electrodes 175 a and 175 b may bealtered in various manners.

The first and second gate electrodes 124 a and 124 b, the first andsecond source electrodes 173 a and 173 b, and the first and second drainelectrodes 175 a and 175 b form first and second thin film transistors(TFT) Qa and Qb together with the first and second semiconductors 154 aand 154 b, and the channels of the first and second TFTs Qa and Qb areformed at the first and second semiconductors 154 a and 154 b betweenthe first and second source electrodes 173 a and 173 b and the first andsecond drain electrodes 175 a and 175 b.

The ohmic contacts 163 b and 165 b exist only between the underlyingsemiconductors 154 a and 154 b and the overlying data lines 171 a and171 b and drain electrodes 175 a and 175 b so as to lower the contactresistance therebetween. The semiconductors 154 a and 154 b have exposedportions not covered by the data lines 171 a and 171 b and the drainelectrodes 175 a and 175 b, including a portion thereof between thesource electrodes 173 a and 173 b and the drain electrodes 175 a and 175b.

A lower passivation layer 180 p is formed on the data lines 171 a and171 b, the drain electrodes 175 a and 175 b, and the exposed portions ofthe semiconductors 154 a and 154 b, using silicon nitride or siliconoxide.

A color filter 230 is formed through a lithography process on the lowerpassivation layer 180 p. The color filter 230 may be formed in a pixelarea defined by the intersection of the gate line 121 and the data lines171 a and 171 b, and the respective color filters 230 may express one ofthree primary colors of red, green, and blue. The left and rightboundaries of the color filter 230 may be disposed on the data lines 171a and 171 b and extend according to the data lines 171 a and 171 b. Inthis case, the color filter 230 may have a belt shape. Color filters 230of the same color may not be adjacent to each other.

The color filter 230 may include a structure having a photosensitiveorganic composition and a pigment to realize full colors. For example,the color filter 230 may include pigments of red, green, or blue thatare included in the photosensitive organic composition.

The color filter 230 may have an opening G1 and a groove G2. The openingG1 exposes the lower passivation layer 180 p in the region where thefirst and second drain electrodes 175 a and 175 b and the pixelelectrode 191 contact each other. The groove G2 is disposed between theneighboring data lines 171 a and 171 b between the pixel areas. In anexemplary embodiment, color filters 230 displaying different colorsoverlap each other between the neighboring data lines 171 a and 171 bbetween the pixel areas, and the groove G2 is not formed.

An upper passivation layer 180 q made of an organic material or aninorganic material is formed on the lower passivation layer 180 p andthe color filter 230. The upper passivation layer 180 q protects thecolor filter 230, and simultaneously flattens the underlying layers.

The lower passivation layer 180 p may prevent the pigment of the colorfilter 230 from flowing into the exposed semiconductors 154 a and 154 b.

The upper passivation layer 180 q has contact holes 185 a and 185 bexposing the drain electrodes 175 a and 175 b. The contact holes 185 aand 185 b are connected to and overlap the opening G1 of the colorfilter 230.

A plurality of pixel electrodes 191 are formed on the upper passivationlayer 180 q. The pixel electrodes 191 may be formed using a transparentconductive material such as Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) and Indium Zinc Oxide(IZO). The respective pixel electrodes 191 include first and secondsub-pixel electrodes 191 a and 191 b separated from each other by a gap91. The second sub-pixel electrode 191 b includes a pair of branches 195extending along the data line 171. The branches 195 are disposed betweenthe first sub-pixel electrode 191 a and the data lines 171 a and 171 b,and are connected to the bottom of the first sub-pixel electrode 191 a.The first and second sub-pixel electrodes 191 a and 191 b are connectedto the first and second drain electrodes 175 a and 175 b through thecontact holes 185 a and 185 b so as to receive data voltages from thefirst and second drain electrodes 175 a and 175 b.

A light blocking member 220 is formed on the upper passivation layer 180q, and a main spacer 363M is formed on the pixel electrode 191. Thelight blocking member 220 is formed at a portion corresponding to theboundary of the pixel area and the first and second TFTs Qa and Qb.However, the light blocking member 220 is not formed where the pixelelectrode 191 and the drain electrodes 175 a and 175 b contact eachother. The main spacer 363M may be formed in the contact holes 185 a and185 b.

The main spacer 363M fills the contact holes 185 a and 185 b, andextends toward the upper panel 200. The main spacer 363M functions tomaintain the interval between the upper panel 200 and the lower panel100. The main spacer 363M may contact the upper panel 200.

The light blocking member 220 and the main spacer 363M may besimultaneously formed, and may be made of a material such as a coloredorganic layer.

The thickness of the main spacer 363M may be greater than a height of acell gap, the cell gap corresponding to the interval of the liquidcrystal layer 3. The thickness of the main spacer 363M may be greaterthan the height of the cell gap by more than 1 μm.

When the height of the cell gap corresponding to the interval of theliquid crystal layer 3 is 3.6 μm and the area of the contact holes 185 aand 185 b is 22 μm*22 μm, the thickness of the main spacer 363M tomaintain the height of the cell gap may be greater than 5.0 μm.

The light blocking member 220 may be formed with a thickness that isless than that of the main spacer 363M.

The contact holes 185 a and 185 b of the upper passivation layer 180 qmay have a slope such that the width thereof is decreased closer to thelower side. Accordingly, the width of the main spacer 363M formed in thecontact holes 185 a and 185 b is decreased closer to a lower portion ofthe main spacer 363M compared to a middle portion of the main spacer363M according to the shape of the contact holes 185 a and 185 b. On theother hand, the width of the main spacer 363M formed on the upperpassivation layer 180 q may be decreased closer to an upper portion ofthe main spacer 363M compared to a middle portion of the main spacer363M.

The main spacer 363M according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention is filled in the contact holes 185 a and 185 b such that whenan external force is applied, the force is dispersed in a wide area, andthereby a smear defect may be decreased. The smear defect occurs whenthe elasticity of the spacer is damaged by external pressure.

The panel 200 will now be described in detail.

In the upper display panel 200, a common electrode 270 is formed on theentire surface of a transparent insulation substrate 210, and analignment layer (not shown) is formed on the common electrode 270.

FIG. 5 is a layout view of an LCD according to an exemplary embodimentof the present invention, showing the “A” portion of FIG. 1. FIG. 6 is across-sectional view taken along line VI-VI′ of FIG. 5.

The exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 has almost the sameconfiguration as the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4.However, the LCD according to the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 5and FIG. 6 further includes an assistance spacer 363S formed on the gateline 121.

The assistance spacer 363S may be formed along with the main spacer363M, and may be further away from the upper panel 200 than the mainspacer 363M. However, the assistance spacer 363S may be closer to theupper panel 200 than the light blocking member 220. The assistancespacer 363S maintains the height of the cell gap along with the mainspacer 363M.

FIG. 7 is a layout view of the “B” region of FIG. 1. FIG. 8 is across-sectional view taken along lines X-X′ and X′-X″ of FIG. 7 andlines Y-Y′ and Y′-Y″ of FIG. 3.

Referring to FIG. 7, contact assistants 81 are connected to end portions129 of the gate lines 121 through contact holes 181, respectively. Thecontact assistants 81 assist the adhesion of the end portions 129 of thegate lines 121 to external devices, and protect them. Although notshown, the end portions of the data lines 171 may have a similarconfiguration as end portions 129 of the gate lines 121, and contactassistants may be connected to end portions of the data lines 171.

Images are displayed at the display area DA of the LCD, and a lightblocking member 221 is formed at the non-display area PA. The lightblocking member 221 of the non-display area PA is formed on the upperpassivation layer 180 q. In FIG. 8, the light blocking member 221 isformed inside the sealant 310, however it may be formed under or outsidethe sealant 310.

The storage electrode line 131 extends on the left and right sides ofthe non-display area PA of the LCD roughly in the row direction whilestanding on the same plane as the gate line 121. The storage electrodeline 131 includes outer storage electrodes 138. The outer storageelectrode 138 may be roughly square-shaped or rectangular-shaped.

A plurality of storage electrode line connecting members 174 extend onthe left and right sides of the non-display area PA of the LCD roughlyin the column direction while standing on the same plane as the datalines 171.

Transparent connectors 192 electrically connect the storage electrodeline connecting members 174 and the outer storage electrodes 138 witheach other. Contact holes 183 b are formed at the contact area betweenthe transparent connectors 192 and the storage electrode line connectingmembers 174, and other contact holes 183 a are formed at the contactarea between the transparent connectors 192 and the outer storageelectrodes 138. Alternatively, the outer storage electrodes 138 and thestorage electrode line connecting members 174 may be omitted.

A gate driver 400 is formed on the left and right sides of thenon-display area PA of the LCD and is connected to the gate lines 121.The gate driver 400 includes data signal lines 410 and gate signal lines420, which are electrically connected to each other via transparentconnectors 192. The gate signal lines 420 of the gate driver 400 areformed on the same plane as the gate lines 121, and the data signallines 410 of the gate driver 400 are formed on the same plane as thedata lines 171. The contact holes 183 b are formed at the contact areabetween the transparent connectors 192 and the data signal lines 410 ofthe gate driver 400, and the contact holes 183 a are formed at thecontact area between the transparent connectors 192 and the gate signallines 420 of the gate driver 400. Alternatively, the gate driver 400 maynot be formed on the lower display panel 100, but may be formed on aseparate IC chip, and in this case, the contact holes 183 a and 183 bthrough which the transparent connectors 192 contact the data signalline 410 or the gate signal line 420 of the gate driver 400 do notexist.

The features of the non-display area PA of an LCD according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention, and details relevant tothe display area DA thereof, will now be described

Here, the light blocking member 221 formed in the non-display area PAand the light blocking member 220 formed in the display area DA arerespectively described as the first light blocking member 221 and thesecond light blocking member 220.

The first light blocking member 221 may cover all portions where thelight leakage may be generated on the insulation substrate 110 of thenon-display area PA. The first light blocking member 221 may besimultaneously formed with the second light blocking member 220 and themain spacer 363M of the display area DA. Also, the first light blockingmember 221 may be formed using the same material as the second lightblocking member 220 and the main spacer 363M of the display area DA.

The first light blocking member 221 may be formed using the coloredorganic layer, and have an optical density of 4 to 5. The first lightblocking member 221 may have an optical density of more than 4 tosubstantially prevent the light leakage. The first light blocking member221 is further away from the upper panel 200 than the main spacer 363M.Here, the first light blocking member 221 may be thinner than the mainspacer 363M by more than 1 μm.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the mainspacer 363M of the display area DA is formed in the contact holes 185 aand 185 b through which the pixel electrode 191 and the drain electrodes175 a and 175 b are contacted with each other. Thus, the thickness ofthe main spacer 363M that is greater than 5.0 μm may be formed whilemaintaining a height of the cell gap of about 3.6 μm.

The main spacer 363M may be disposed at the portion where the organiclayer or the inorganic layer is removed such as at the contact holes 185a and 185 b. Therefore, the coating thickness may be increased whencoating the main spacer 363M and the first light blocking member 221 ofthe non-display area PA, and the thickness of the first light blockingmember 221 may also be increased.

Although the main spacer 363M may be formed with a thickness of 3.6 μm,the first light blocking member 221 of the non-display area PA may beformed with a thickness of more than 4.0 μm such that the opticaldensity is more than 4. Accordingly, the first light blocking member 221may prevent the light leakage.

Next, a manufacturing method of an LCD according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention will be described with reference toFIG. 7 and FIG. 8.

The TFT Qb including the gate electrode 124 b, the source electrode 173b, the drain electrode 175 b, and the semiconductor 154 b is formed onthe insulation substrate 110 including the display area DA and thenon-display area PA.

A lower passivation layer 180 p made of silicon nitride or silicon oxideis formed on the TFT Qb, and a color filter 230 having an opening G1 anda groove G2 is formed through a lithography process.

An upper passivation layer 180 q having a contact hole 185 b exposingthe drain electrode 175 b is formed on the lower passivation layer 180 pand the color filter 230.

The first light blocking member 221 of the non-display area PA, thesecond light blocking member 220 of the display area DA, and the mainspacer 363M on the pixel electrode 191 are formed on the upperpassivation layer 180 q. The main spacer 363M maintains the intervalbetween the upper panel 200 and the lower panel 100.

The first light blocking member 221 may be simultaneously formed withthe second light blocking member 220 and the main spacer 363M of thedisplay area DA. Here, a step of reducing the thickness of the firstlight blocking member 221 compared with the thickness of the main spacer363M may be executed by using a translucent mask.

Also, the main spacer 363M may have a width that decreases closer to theupper and lower portions of the main spacer 363M compared to a middleportion of the main spacer 363M.

Next, the upper panel 200 including the common electrode 270 formed onthe insulation substrate 210 and the lower panel 100 are combined.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications and variation can be made in the present invention withoutdeparting from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it isintended that the present invention cover the modifications andvariations of this invention provided they come within the scope of theappended claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A liquid crystal display including a display areaand a non-display area, comprising: a first substrate; a secondsubstrate facing the first substrate; a color filter disposed on thefirst substrate; a layer disposed on the color filter and disposed atthe display area and the non-display area, the layer comprising acontact hole at the display area; a pixel electrode disposed on thelayer; a main spacer overlapping the contact hole and protruding fromthe contact hole toward the second substrate, the main spacermaintaining an interval between the first substrate and the secondsubstrate; an assistance spacer to maintain an interval between thefirst substrate and the second substrate; and a first light blockingmember disposed in the non-display area, wherein the main spacer and thefirst light blocking member comprise the same material, and wherein theassistance spacer is further away from the second substrate than themain spacer, and wherein the first light blocking member is thinner thanthe main spacer.
 2. The liquid crystal display of claim 1, wherein themain spacer and the assistance spacer comprise the same material.
 3. Theliquid crystal display of claim 1, further comprising: a thin filmtransistor disposed on the first substrate; a passivation layer disposedon the thin film transistor; and a pixel electrode disposed on thepassivation layer, wherein the pixel electrode is connected to a drainelectrode of the thin film transistor through the contact hole.
 4. Theliquid crystal display of claim 1, wherein a thickness of the mainspacer is greater than a height of a cell gap.
 5. The liquid crystaldisplay of claim 4, wherein the thickness of the main spacer is greaterthan the height of the cell gap by more than 1.0 μm.
 6. The liquidcrystal display of claim 5, wherein the thickness of the main spacer isgreater than 5.0 μm.
 7. The liquid crystal display of claim 6, wherein awidth of the main spacer is decreased in an upper portion and a lowerportion of the main spacer compared to a middle portion of the mainspacer.
 8. The liquid crystal display of claim 1, wherein the assistancespacer is closer to the second substrate than the first light blockingmember.
 9. The liquid crystal display of claim 1, further comprising: asecond light blocking member disposed in the display area, wherein thefirst light blocking member and the second light blocking membercomprise the same material.
 10. The liquid crystal display of claim 9,wherein the assistance spacer is closer to the second substrate than thesecond light blocking member.
 11. A method for manufacturing a liquidcrystal display comprising a display area and a non-display area, themethod comprising: forming a color filter on a first substrate; forminga layer on a first substrate at the display area and the non-displayarea, the layer comprising a contact hole at the display area andcovering the color filter at the display area; forming a pixel electrodeon the layer; forming a main spacer overlapping the contact hole, themain spacer extending from the contact hole toward a second substrateand maintaining an interval between the first substrate and the secondsubstrate; forming an assistance spacer to maintain an interval betweenthe first substrate and the second substrate; and forming a first lightblocking member disposed in the non-display area, wherein the forming ofthe first light blocking member and the main spacer comprises using atranslucent mask to reduce the thickness of the first light blockingmember compared with the thickness of the main spacer; and wherein theassistance spacer is further away from the second substrate than themain spacer, and wherein the first light blocking member is thinner thanthe main spacer.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the main spacer andthe assistance spacer are simultaneously formed.
 13. The method of claim11, further comprising: forming a thin film transistor on the firstsubstrate; forming a passivation layer on the thin film transistor; andforming a pixel electrode on the passivation layer, wherein the pixelelectrode is connected to a drain electrode of the thin film transistorthrough the contact hole.
 14. The liquid crystal display of claim 11,wherein the main spacer and the first light blocking member aresimultaneously formed.
 15. The liquid crystal display of claim 14,further comprising: forming a second light blocking member in thedisplay area, wherein the first light blocking member and the secondlight blocking member are simultaneously formed.
 16. The liquid crystaldisplay of claim 15, wherein the assistance spacer is closer to thesecond substrate than the second light blocking member.
 17. The methodof claim 12, wherein the main spacer is formed to have a width that isdecreased in an upper and a lower portion of the main spacer compared toa middle portion of the main spacer.